Dubois Farms- Fall Rite-of-Passage
by Gabriella Pryor
It is no secret that Fall is the time for all things cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and of course: apples. The yearly ringing-in of this highly anticipated season is typically marked with trips to pumpkin patches and apple farms alike, and the Hudson Valley is full of them. One of the most commonly visited apple farms by college students housed in Poughkeepsie, NY is DuBois Farms, located just across the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Highland, NY.
During the Fall, a visit to Dubois Farms has seemingly become a right of passage among not only college students, but families in the region. Most known for their “U-Pick Apples” and having “The Best Apple Cider Doughnuts in the Hudson Valley”, members of the community visit Dubois Farms for the experience it brings in addition to taking home fresh produce at the end of the day.
According to the employee and daughter of David Dubois, Dubois Farms is one of the two first-generation farms found in the Hudson Valley, meaning everything found on the property goes to the credit of David and Jolee Dubois, after they purchased the 54-acre land.
The farm has a variety of crops for those visiting to indulge in, including not just a wide range of 30 different kinds of apples, but grapes, tomatoes, pumpkins, plums and much more. However, “Apples are the main thing that people come for,” says David Dubois’ daughter about the crop that gets the most attention.
Like typical farms, Dubois has a market where guests can find a variety of their in-house products ranging from jams, jellies, and hot sauces, to apple cider and other goods produced on-site. However, what makes Dubois unique is that in addition to their market, they also have a “BBQ and Tavern” where people can dine on the weekends and those of age can purchase local beer, wine, and hard cider.
Dubois Farms most busy weekend is Columbus Day weekend where they upgrade their staff from a mere handful of people to up to 100 employees in order to ensure everyone attending is catered to. Their weekends in general are busier than the weekdays and they often have weekend celebrations that include tractor rides down to the pumpkin patch and a variety of games and prizes for visiting families.
“We make sure everything is fast and served fresh so that no one is ever standing around and waiting for something,” Dubois’ said about the efficiency of the farm. Because people can come for a variety of different reasons, the staff ensures that whatever motive guests are coming for, their needs are met first-hand.
The farm takes guests starting as early as weekends in June. They begin being open every day regularly from as early as July 20th to November 10th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The owners are even considering staying open through December for those ready to bring in even more holiday cheer.
It’s no secret that what makes Dubois Farms stand out is the homegrown, family-oriented feeling that is felt when stepping onto the farm. The people at Dubois Farms are passionate about what they are doing.
The experience visitors get when visiting Dubois Farms can be a different one every time because of the variety of activities and crops people have to explore, while still remaining centered in a warm setting with great customer service and hospitality that keeps locals coming back year after year.
